The Goat

The Goat sits right in the centre of Downton, on the edge of the New Forest — a village pub that mixes bar food, pizza, British pub classics and a touch of Latvian influence, open for lunch and dinner with vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu.

The kitchen leans on locally sourced ingredients for hearty, familiar dishes: chicken pie, lasagne, balti curries, fish and chips, sandwiches, a Greek-style kebab, cottage pie, Sunday lunch, and a short list of desserts including cheesecake.

On the drinks side, local ales are a focus, and the pub recently earned its first entry in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. It’s dog-friendly — treats and blankets included — with a large garden and firepit for sitting outside, and it hosts occasional live music and seasonal events.

Reviews are generally positive, with people calling out the relaxed atmosphere, varied seating, and attentive but unobtrusive staff. The food gets particular praise, especially the pies and lasagne, and the dog-friendly setup is a recurring mention. Feedback has been a little more mixed on repeat visits, with the usual range of comments you’d expect from a busy village pub.